Rasmus smacked the floor hard. He felt something break, possibly a tooth, a rib, maybe a cheek bone, or possibly all of the above. He couldn't muster the strength to stand and escape the fire that was rapidly engulfing the room. The fire creature certainly didn't help as every step it took ignited more of the exhibits and furniture. With the last of his strength he scanned the room for Slygja but could not spot her amongst the wreckage and smoke. He hoped that she would be alright, but it was more likely she was like him somewhere, broken on the floor.
As he looked a figure emerged. Rasmus had no illusions of who it was, as it silhouetted a thin man hunched in pain.
"You're….magic….is strong….." wheezed Kasmir, somehow free of the giant spectral hand. The battered mage limped towards the prone Rasmus. While Rasmus always considered the man middle to old age, he looked absolutely ancient now, skin pull tight and covered with wrinkles. With his burnt and torn robes he looked akin to a zombie." My spells are stronger though, ….and soon your secrets will…be mine."
"I'm not…I'm not who you think I am," panted Rasmus in a hollow voice that surprised even himself. Was he that drained…was he that near death.
"Oh, I think you are,….Leto Leroung…. my old 'friend'. Though…friends..shouldn't be keeping secrets from each other…should they," said Kasmir as he towered over Rasmus. The fire creature had continued its rampage throughout the trophy room, but the second earth creature stood vigilant at his side.
"Secrets?"
Kasmir waved his hand, and his heavy staff flew from the fires and into his hands. Rasmus expected it to burn the old mage since it was smouldering, but it had no effect in his grasp. With his weapon in hand, Kasmir smacked Rasmus hard in the side. "Don't …play the fool. Not now. Your tower has been invaded, your guards defeated, and you've been beaten. Make it simple for yourself and tell me what I wish to know, and I'll cut your suffering….refuse me, and I'll demonstrate techniques that I've learned at the House of Thrune that will surely loosen your tongue."
Considering the pain he was in right now, Rasmus doubt there could be anything Kasmir could do to him that would increase his suffering, prolonging it however was a different matter. While he wished to be compliant, he did not know what his man wanted from him. "You'll have to be specific about which secrets you wish to know."
Kasmir smiled victoriously."There's only one thing I desire. The object you bought in your youth in Torch before my own agents could secure it for me. The one you stole from me a hundred and fifty years ago."
Rasmus wasn't sure what Kasmir was talking about, he didn't even know that Master Leroung was over a hundred and fifty years old. He had obviously heard of magics that prolonged one's life, but that was like mythical Runelord magic. The only other options for longevity were those ridiculously expensive life potions from Osirion and dark rituals that transformed a person into the undead. As for Torch, he didn't know anything about where it existed, though he had heard it mentioned recently.
"Torch…the market?"
"Yes…yes..!" said Kasmir as his withered ancient face smiled, his face contorting to resemble that of a goblins.
"You're talking about the Cacodaemon scroll?"
"Cacodaemon?... Zagyg Yragerne? ….no of course not, I'm talking….wait…yes…yes. Ancient magic from a forgotten era. I always thought it was an archaic way for summoning, but I suppose you could unleash something to prolong one's life. I don't know how, but I have to study this and….."
Kasmir stopped as he stared at a glowing blade erupting through his withered husk of a chest.
Rasmus stared at the blade as well, then the two mages locked eyes for a second before Kasmir's pupils went blank and his body fell limp.
"Let's get out of here," said Sylgja as she pushed the dead wizard off of the glowing sword and into pieces of burning Chuul. She grasped Rasmus and yanked him out of the way, even as the Earthen guardian took a swing at her.
The blow narrowly missed as Sylgja forced the pair out of its path. Rasmus thought the next attack would connect though as the creature was still dangerous close, but it paused and simply wandered off, smashing any trophies or obstacles that got in its way.
"The lobster trap," nodded Rasmus as he recalled his conversation with the Pale man.
Sylgja ignored his random comment as she pressed forwards to the foggy exit/entrance of this area. Between the fire and the raging elemental creatures, it was prudent that they left as soon as possible.
"No, there's another way,"gasped Rasmus as he pointed towards a large unburnt curtain.
Sylgja hesitated but silently agreed to his directions. She made it to the curtain, pushed her way through and saw a short corridor with a foggy exit at the end.
"Should we wait it out?" asked Sylgja. "There's some type of ventilation here, else we would have choked from smoke by now, and the big creatures seem to ignore us for now. I'm in no position to fight, and neither are you. Maybe Reinhardt or someone could find us?"
Two loud roars sounded behind them as the walls and ceiling shook and a blast of heat washed over them. It was too dangerous to stay. Without looking back, the pair pressed forwards into the fog.
